Stefan Seipel with a “range camera” which measures a 3D picture. The image on the screen in the background is a 3D laser scanned part of an industrial facility.

The Swedish Agency for Regional and Economic Growth, Region Gävleborg and the University of Gävle together invest SEK 5.7 million to enable businesses in the region to take advantage of the latest developments in 3D technology.

A great opportunity for businesses

Stefan Seipel would like to give businesses an understanding for, as well as knowledge about, what 3D digitalisation could be in terms of position technology and measuring techniques. Next, the researchers aim to adapt 3D technology to the various needs of the individual businesses.

In his view, this project is a great opportunity to develop products while conducting research in 3D technology. Future products could then streamline production, enhance quality and facilitate work processes or be used for preventive maintenance within the industry.

He gives us a few hypothetical examples to illustrate what this could mean:

Positioning of goods

3D technology is useful in enhancing logistics in the flow of goods in a larger production plant and in positioning goods in environments that are not readily accessible; Goods may in the process go through factory halls or they can be stored outdoors where it may be cold and with neither Wi-Fi coverage nor coverage via satellite.

“To a very high degree, it is about spatial data: managing a storage facility in an optimal manner, planning routes and transport routes, shelving etcetera. A new way to manage these challenges is needed.”

Big tanks with hazardous liquids

If a big tank contains a hazardous liquid which if it heats up can cause the tank to lose its shape, a few millimetres can be crucial. By using the 3d technology available today for continuous shape measurements, we can determine if the tank is losing its shape. In this way, it becomes possible to draw conclusions on whether there is a hazardous pressure inside the tank and also to detect other on-going dangerous processes.

“It could be a tank, an industrial oven, or it could be a bridge, which we could measure to identify the need for maintenance and to prevent, for example, the collapse of a bridge.”

The crane at the construction site

In using loading cranes, which are loading interactively or fully automatically, we would like navigation support. On a truck as well as on a construction site, it may be difficult for the crane operator to see where to drop the cargo.

“This could be measured in advance if you know what the building looks like, and then we can show a different perspective to the operator.”

Knowledge transfer to businesses

Stefan explains that there are different measurement techniques with different advantages and disadvantages, and they would like to explore these with the businesses in question. Many businesses may not be able to determine themselves if that particular technical solution will work for them and should be invested in.

“We might need to try it out in a study, and then we can determine the need and, possibly, develop something and that becomes research. So, it concerns development of new skills and knowledge, but the project also involves transferring knowledge regarding 3D technology to businesses,” Stefan Seipel concludes.

For more information, please contact: Stefan Seipel, project manager and professor in computer science at the University of Gävle, Phone: 076- 028 28 00 E-mail: stefan.seipel@hig.se